David Hodgson

How are times increasingly dark? Walk me through that one. ‘Under these owners’, and the ones before them, and the ones before them too. And quite frankly , the ones during the golden era were no inspirations either, they just got a couple of key decisions right. Shankly was always fighting with the board. Owners for everyone are just lessers of evils unless you get the actual evil ones, or the evil ones with loads of money, so you don’t care.

Don’t be daft Leo. Enjoying what we’re actually doing and the clear progress we’re making must always be dampened by fears of what dastardly schemes the ownership have planned for us. I really want us to replace Coutinho and replace him now . But I think they’re all trying. And I sense the manager is genuinely ok with the hands he’s being dealt. And I think he’s the best, and we’re playing great football and doing well. So hurray for everything.

You need to read the link. Well, let me save you the bother - the piece is them quoting (Sun journalist) Ian Mcgarry, who claims (but may be guessing) that negotiations between LFC and Leipzig are ongoing and that he could still move before the end of the month. Notwithstanding the 'source' on this, it sounds a reasonably likely scenario. I'd fully expect us to be still trying to nibble away at Leipzig.

We won’t sell him after one year. If they still want him after 2 years it will be because he’s at a phenomenal level. Long may it continue that the best and richest couple of sides in the world want our players. The thing to worry about is not losing players for fortunes to likes of Real Madrid , it’s about a) will to reinvest proceeds and b) competency of recruitment . In the recent past I’d have trusted neither. Not really the case now.

I hate everything about Mignolet's game. So far I only hate 8 of 10 things in Karius's game. Karius wins hand down. There remains a chance - not a huge one - that we haven't seen anything like Karius's best yet.

They both have their attributes and their failings. I don't see any chasm between them overall. Matip looks more stylish and considered, but he's just not a warrior. He rarely looks like a real defender to me. A midfielder filling in. Lovren, by contrast, is too pro-active for his own good. He can't wait to attack a ball that's never his. He's the one who will make the glaring errors. Matip just isn't aggressive enough.

Mikhitaryan hasn't look good in England. He's nowhere near Sanchez's level. As a salvage operation - on the debacle that potentially losing Sanchez for nothing was - Mikhitaryan represents a half decent save, I'll grant you. And he should do better under Wenger than Mourinho.

Aye. tbf I'm not sure we need another centre half. Virgil is like 3 men. Let's give one of the specs to Solanke.

I think it could be the other way round myself. He can get his goal from off the bench.

It's a no brainer to want Sanchez and and know that he's a fantastic player, it's quite another to expect your club to fork out for a £25m per year 4 year contract, knowing the lad is nearly 30 to boot. I've banged on about how we penny pinched in our offer to Sanchez in 2014 and that we should've blown Arsenal out of the water , but United's offer now is at a level which even the world's richest club baulked at. There is no disgrace or lack of ambition being shown in us not getting into a bidding war with United over this. This time Sanchez can't be used as a stick to beat anyone with,

It's not a League cup tie. We haven't got a game in the midweek afterwards, and no one looks to be carrying an injury. Solanke's make-weight ass stays firmly on that bench.

There are some of our own who don’t get him. Lovely lads too.

Very fair. But of course, we must destroy him.

I think it’s a question of structure and sustainability. If we wanted to push the boat out for Sanchez we could. Barca have first team players on hugely different wages. Players would get that Sanchez is getting 500k a week because he is out of contract . I think we aren’t after Sanchez because we don’t see value in him. He’s a pacey explosive front man who is going to be 30 soon. United are over paying out of desperation to a degree . I also think he fits their brand and galatico policy. Klopp probably thinks I can get Sanchez now or Lemar in the summer . The deals are both hugely expensive . One provides instant results and marketable glamour the other may sustain his vision for lfc for years to come . It’s about strategy not about affordability .

Oh come back Sander westerveld, mike hooper, David James, Chris Kirkland . All is forgiven .

Mignolet is a very average shot stopper. He is a spectacular shot stopper, I'll grant you. He loves the theatricality of goalkeeping. He is without doubt the most hesitant keeper I can recall seeing at the top level. He does nothing but cause anxiety to defenders. His kicking is weak, he's slow to come off his line, he never comes out to catch a ball, he's poor on crosses generally, and his distribution and speed of thinking about counter attacking are appalling. Oh and he misjudges the flight of any high ball for fun. I would play U23 keeper Camille Grabbara ahead of Mignolet to the end of the season. Karius ? Fill ya boots lad. You can't be worse.

Hes left footed.

Can is really good and is getting better. He has moments in games which give his detractors ammunition, but I nearly always come away form watching him thinking his overall contribution has been positive. He's not and is unlikely to ever become world class, but he's got a high level and I don't think replacing him would be straight forward.

We replaced Torres with Suarez. Took us a year to do it but we effectively replaced Sterling with Mane. The biggest problem we’ve had was failing to replace Suarez with Sanchez. We’re easier to pick off then the three clubs that are much richer and hence much more successful than us. We aren’t an easier touch than Arsenal or spurs . I just don’t get this desire to paint this as some grand disaster. Selling is never a problem if you buy well. We weren’t doing that, we are now.

Leipzig's manager poured cold water on this the other day, tbf. I think we're seeing some urgency being injected into the situation now, which makes all the sense in the world, considering we're talking about paying a big premium to enjoy a player for around 16 more league games max.

You’ve seen this yeah ? http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/klopp-coutinho-money-reinvested-liverpool-14149960 Why is it not possible that he’s just telling the truth ?

Arsenal at their peak sold Anelka, Overmars and Petit. United sold Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy. peak. Spurs sold Walker, berbatov and bale Chelsea fell out with and sold Costa because he wanted to leave . Robben left Chelsea . City are the worlds richest club. Liverpool sold keegan, souness and rush at our peak.

Well, I hope within 2 years the Spanish gruesome twosome are bashing our door down for 8 of ours. I’ll take that back hander all day.

We’ve spent £220m , we’ve recouped what , ££170m, since August. And we haven’t started spending the coutinho money . We are net and gross spending substantially. There’s no sign that there’s any holding back here .

Good job we’ve got best players who are good enough . If our best players weren’t Barcelona standard we’d not be selling our best players . They could’ve picked any one from 4 and they’d have been stronger . Let’s hope we stop developing world class talent eh. We aren’t getting picked off by our peers . We’re losing players to the worlds number one football brand . It’s hard to take but it’s not a slap in the mouth.